The idea of establishing the General Secretariat of the Organization of Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies appeared in 1965 during the Movement meeting in the Austrian Capital Vienna, when the Arab National Societies were neither linked with partnerships, nor with any kind of coordination. Their influence as a group working within the International Movement was minimal . The Iraqi Red Crescent Society took the initiative when it wrote to some Arab National Societies for finding a form of coordination and cooperation between National Societies. The idea was enthusiastically taken by the Jordan National Red Crescent society and had promptly invited the Arab National Societies for a meeting in Amman, Jordan in 1966. Meetings were then held in Cairo in 1969, Beirut in 1971, Baghdad in 1972 and in Kuwait in 1974 . Strong desire for coordination and creation of a federation for the Arab National Societies was the result of these meetings.
In 1975 the Seventh Regional Conference of Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies was held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the project was born and Jeddah was named as its permanent headquarter. The Secretariat was later transferred to Riyadh.
OBJECTIVES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In general, the Organization aims to strengthen cooperation and coordinate efforts amongst National Societies on the regional and international levels in order to achieve the mission of the Red Crescent and Red Cross according to the fundamental principles of the International Movement.
The Organization works through its various bodies on achieving its goals by shouldering the following responsibilities:
-Strengthening links and coordination between National Societies and other societies.
-Supporting and encouraging development programs in National Societies as well as bilateral and collective cooperation programs between National Societies and other societies.
-Providing assistance and support to evolving National Societies, newly established National -Societies and National Societies struggling because of their limited capacities.
-Sharing expertise and information among National Societies.
-Encouraging coordination of relief and rescue operations among National Societies in order to assist the victims in Arab and foreign countries stricken by natural and non-natural disasters.
-Sustaining cooperation and liaison between National Societies, International Federation, ICRC and other concerned National Societies and institutions.
-Exchanging views among National Societies on both international and regional levels on issues related to the International Movement.
-Promoting information programs conducted by National Societies on local, regional and international levels.
-Developing means and methods to increase awareness about the fundamental principles of the International Movement disseminate IHL and sustain work for establishing peace and human rights.
-Supporting the Arab presence on all levels pertinent to the International Movement.
-Providing the concerned regional and international Organizations with information on National Societies’ activities and stances and acquainting them with issues related to the International Movement.
-Working on diversifying and enhancing sources of income.
-Documenting the humanitarian aid contributed by National Societies.
